Genetic Parameters of Fertility Disorders and Mastitis in the Swedish Friesian Breed |
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| Authors: | Erwin Koenen Britt Berglund Jan Philipsson Ab Groen |
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| Institution: | 1. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics , PO B 7023, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden;2. Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Animal Breeding , PO B 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands;3. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics , PO B 7023, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden;4. Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Animal Breeding , PO B 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Genetic parameters of fertility disorders and mastitis in the Swedish Friesian breed (SLB) were estimated from 9516 observations, using a restricted multiple trait maximum likelihood method. Information on individual cow diagnosis for fertility disorders and mastitis was obtained from registered veterinary treatments matched with AI data and data from the milk-recording scheme, including culling reasons. Heritability estimates for fertility disorders and mastitis using only veterinary treatments as sources of information were 0.008±0.011 and 0.018±0.015, respectively. Including culling reasons gave a significant increase in heritability estimate for mastitis (0.083±0.030), but not for fertility disorders (0.001±0.003). Increased incidence of fertility disorders and decreased incidence of mastitis were found for SLB cows with a high proportion of imported Holstein Friesian genes. Estimates of heterosis effects were small and not significant. Estimated recombination effects were negative for fertility disorders and positive for mastitis. |
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| Keywords: | dairy cattle heritabilities correlations REML multiple trait all-or-none traits |
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